Predict kit coat colors, genotypes, eye colors, and hidden recessive carrier traits using Mendelian Punnett genetics across A (Agouti), B (Black/Chocolate), C (Color), D (Dense/Dilute), E (Extension), En (Broken), and V (Vienna/BEW) loci.
Dominant genes (like Black B and Agouti A) hide recessive traits. Albino Ruby-Eyed White (cc) and Blue-Eyed White (vv) epistatically override all other pigment genes, creating white coats regardless of what color alleles the rabbit carries underneath.
Order of Mendelian dominance and biological effect on hair shaft melanin.
| Locus | Dominance Order | Primary Action | Visible Expression Varieties |
|---|---|---|---|
| A (Agouti) | A > aᵗ > a | Hair shaft pigment banding & pattern | A = Chestnut/Opal; aᵗ = Otter/Tan; a = Black/Self |
| B (Base Color) | B > b | Eumelanin synthesis (Black vs Brown) | B = Black/Blue; b = Chocolate/Lilac |
| C (Color) | C > cᶜʰᵈ > cᶜʰˡ > cʰ > c | Tyrosinase enzyme & pigment intensity | C = Full; cᶜʰᵈ = Chin; cᶜʰˡ = Sable; cʰ = Himi; c = Albino REW |
| D (Dilution) | D > d | Pigment granule density in hair cortex | D = Dense (Black/Choc); d = Dilute (Blue/Lilac) |
| E (Extension) | Eˢ > E > eʲ > e | Dark pigment distribution along shaft | Eˢ = Steel; E = Normal; eʲ = Harlequin; e = Tort/Orange/Fawn |
Standard scientific formulas, eye colors, and variety classifications.
| Variety Name | Pattern Group | Standard Genotype Formula | Eye Color Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chestnut Agouti | Agouti | A_ B_ C_ D_ E_ | Brown |
| Black (Self) | Self | aa B_ C_ D_ E_ | Dark Brown |
| Blue (Self) | Self | aa B_ C_ dd E_ | Blue-Gray |
| Chocolate (Self) | Self | aa bb C_ D_ E_ | Brown with Ruby Glow |
| Lilac (Self) | Self | aa bb C_ dd E_ | Dove Gray with Pink Ruby Cast |
| Opal (Blue Agouti) | Agouti | A_ B_ C_ dd E_ | Blue-Gray |
| Black Otter | Tan Pattern | aᵗ_ B_ C_ D_ E_ | Dark Brown |
| Standard Chinchilla | Agouti / Chin | A_ B_ cᶜʰᵈ_ D_ E_ | Dark Brown |
| Siamese Sable | Shaded | aa B_ cᶜʰˡ_ D_ E_ | Dark Brown with Ruby Cast |
| Himalayan (Black Point) | Pointed White | aa B_ cʰ_ D_ E_ | Pink / Ruby Red |
| Ruby-Eyed White (REW) | Albino Epistatic | __ __ cc __ __ | Ruby-Pink |
| Blue-Eyed White (BEW) | Vienna Leucistic | __ __ __ __ __ vv | Electric Sapphire Blue |
| Black Tortoiseshell | Non-extension | aa B_ C_ D_ ee | Dark Brown |
| Orange / Red | Wide Band Agouti | A_ B_ C_ D_ ee | Brown |
Rabbit coat color genetics is governed by intricate epistatic interactions across at least seven distinct chromosome loci. Attempting manual Punnett square predictions across multigenic crosses frequently leads to severe breeding mistakes. The rabbit color calculator solves four primary dilemmas:
Breeding two Broken pattern rabbits (\(En/en \times En/en\)) produces 25% homozygous Broken "Charlies" (\(En/En\)). Due to embryonic neural crest cell migration deficits, homozygous Charlies suffer from congenital mega-colon, chronic cecal impaction, and fatal digestive failure. Our tool calculates exact Charlie risks before pairing.
Two visually black rabbits can produce chocolate, blue, lilac, or albino (REW) kits if both carry recessive alleles (\(b\), \(d\), or \(c\)). Our engine reveals hidden carrier status from 3-generation pedigrees so breeders avoid disqualifying show fault colors.
Homozygous albino (\(c/c\)) epistatically masks every other gene in the rabbit's genome. A Ruby-Eyed White rabbit could secretly be an Agouti, Chocolate, Chinchilla, or Harlequin. Our tool models hidden underlying genotypes when breeding to test bucks.
The Vienna gene (\(v\)) produces Blue-Eyed Whites when homozygous (\(v/v\)), but produces random white snips, mismarks, or marbled eyes when heterozygous (\(V/v\)). Introducing Vienna into show lines destroys showable self, shaded, and agouti programs. Our tool isolates Vienna inheritance.
The rabbit color calculator provides a professional 7-locus Mendelian breeding simulator:
Full chromosomal tracking for A (Agouti), B (Brown/Black), C (Color series), D (Dilution), E (Extension), En (Broken), and V (Vienna).
Calculates exact fractional and percentage litter probabilities for every possible kit coat and eye color combination.
Maps genetic outcomes directly to recognized American Rabbit Breeders Association show varieties and standard eye colors.
One-click copy exports complete genetic predictions and kit varieties for your physical breeding record binder.
Follow these six essential steps to predict your litter's coat colors, discover hidden carriers, and select the optimal breeding pairs:
Select the father's visual variety from the quick preset menu to automatically load his dominant alleles.
Select the mother's variety preset, instantly loading her standard genetic baseline.
If pedigree research reveals hidden carriers (e.g. a black rabbit with a chocolate parent), adjust allele #2 to 'b'.
Specify if parents are Broken (En/en) or Vienna carriers (V/v) to predict Charlie or Vienna-marked kits.
Analyze the ranked list of potential kit varieties with exact percentage probabilities and eye color standards.
Click "Copy Breeding Summary" to save complete Mendelian genetic notes to your breeding barn binder.
Eliminate breeding guesswork and avoid disqualification at rabbit shows by understanding how recessive genes interact:
Breeders are often stunned when two show-quality Black rabbits produce a nest box full of pure white, pink-eyed kits. This happens because both parents silently carried the completely recessive albino gene (Cc × Cc), giving each kit a 25% chance of inheriting cc (Ruby-Eyed White). Our tool exposes hidden recessive carriers before you breed.
Breeding two show-marked Broken rabbits (Enen × Enen) results in 25% "Charlies" (EnEn). Charlies have less than 10% color coverage, which is an automatic disqualification under ARBA show standards. To produce 100% show-legal Broken kits and 0% Charlies, experienced breeders use our calculator to pair a Charlie (EnEn) with a Solid (enen).
Lilac is one of the most coveted varieties in Holland Lops and Mini Rex, requiring double homozygosity for both Chocolate (bb) and Dilution (dd). Without a Punnett calculator, calculating the odds of combining multiple recessive traits across generations is mathematically bewildering.
Introducing the Blue-Eyed White Vienna gene (v) into a pure show herd causes heterozygous carriers (Vv) to produce random white spots, blazes, white toenails, or marbled eye colors—all disqualifications for self varieties. Our calculator tracks the Vienna locus to keep pet lines and show lines separate.
Expert rabbit coat color genetics answers backed by ARBA and BRC standards.
Rabbit coat color is primarily determined by five major gene loci operating under Mendelian inheritance: 1) A Locus (Agouti): Governs pigment banding (A = Agouti wild banded hair, at = Tan/Otter pattern, a = Self solid color); 2) B Locus (Base Black/Brown): Controls eumelanin pigment (B = Black, b = Chocolate brown); 3) C Locus (Color / Tyrosinase): Regulates pigment expression intensity (C = Full color, cchd = Dark chinchilla, cchl = Light shaded sable, ch = Himalayan pointed white, c = Albino ruby-eyed white REW); 4) D Locus (Dense / Dilute): Determines pigment granule distribution (D = Dense black/chocolate, d = Dilute blue/lilac); 5) E Locus (Extension): Regulates dark pigment band extension (Es = Steel, E = Normal, ej = Harlequin brindle, e = Non-extension tort/orange/fawn).
A rabbit's phenotype is its outward visual physical appearance—the fur and eye color you see with your eyes (such as Black, Chestnut Agouti, or Blue Otter). A rabbit's genotype is its complete genetic sequence across both inherited alleles at every locus (such as Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee). Because dominant genes (like Agouti A, Black B, Full Color C, Dense D, and Extension E) completely mask recessive genes, two rabbits with identical black phenotypes can carry hidden recessive genes for Chocolate (b), Dilute (d), Albino (c), or Non-extension (e), producing unexpectedly colorful kits in the nest box.
Crossing two true Ruby-Eyed White (REW) rabbits (genotype cc × cc) will ALWAYS result in 100% Ruby-Eyed White offspring, with zero exceptions. The albino 'c' gene is completely recessive and epistatic; it produces a defective tyrosinase enzyme that prevents the biochemical synthesis of melanin throughout the entire body and irises. Although REW rabbits still possess genetic codes for Agouti, Black, or Chocolate at other loci, those traits remain invisible because the pigment engine itself is deactivated.
Blue-Eyed White is governed by the independent Vienna gene locus (V/v): 1) Double Recessive (vv): Yields a pure Blue-Eyed White (BEW) rabbit with an immaculate white coat and brilliant sapphire-blue irises; 2) Heterozygous Carrier (Vv): Produces a 'Vienna Carrier' or 'Vienna Marked' (VM) rabbit. Vienna marked rabbits often exhibit Dutch-like white facial blazes, white front paws ('white socks'), or marbled blue/brown eyes; 3) Normal (VV): Clean non-Vienna rabbit. Crossing two Vienna Marked carriers (Vv × Vv) statistically yields 25% BEW (vv), 50% Vienna Marked/Carrier (Vv), and 25% Normal (VV).
The English Spotting locus (En/en) produces broken white patterns through incomplete dominance: 1) Solid / Self (enen): Possesses no white spotting gene; coat is 100% solid color; 2) Broken Pattern (Enen): Show-quality standard broken rabbit featuring 10% to 50% colored patches over a white base with a butterfly nose marking; 3) Charlie (EnEn): Over-marked homozygous broken possessing over 90% white fur with only faint nose spots or ear smudges. Breeding two show-standard broken rabbits (Enen × Enen) produces 25% solid (enen), 50% show broken (Enen), and 25% charlie (EnEn).
Lilac is the double-recessive combination of Chocolate (bb) and Dilution (dd). Black is the dominant dense pigment (B_ D_). Chocolate is recessive at the B locus (bb D_), while Blue is recessive at the D locus (B_ dd). When a chocolate rabbit carrying dilute (bb Dd) mates with a blue rabbit carrying chocolate (Bb dd), their offspring have a 25% chance of inheriting both recessive 'b' alleles and both recessive 'd' alleles (bb dd), which dilutes brown eumelanin into a soft, dove-gray lilac with a subtle pinkish ruby cast.
The Tan allele (at) occupies the middle rank of the A-locus hierarchy (A > at > a). An otter rabbit features a solid self-colored top coat (black, blue, chocolate, or lilac) paired with crisp cream or white markings outlining the nostrils, eye rings, jowls, inside of the ears, back of the neck (triangle), and entire underside of the belly. If the rabbit carries full color (C), it is called an Otter; if it carries dark chinchilla (cchd), the cream belly turns pure frosty white, creating a Silver Marten.
Tortoiseshell (Tort) is produced by the non-extension recessive allele (ee) acting on a self (aa) base. Normal extension (E) allows black or brown pigment to extend along the entire length of the hair shaft. In homozygous non-extension (ee), dark eumelanin pigment is restricted to the cooler body extremities (face mask, ears, feet, and tail), while the main back and flanks display rich golden fawn or orange fur. Black tort is aa B_ C_ D_ ee, while blue tort is aa B_ C_ dd ee.
No. Two true visual Black rabbits (aa × aa) can NEVER produce an Agouti (A_) kit. The Agouti allele (A) is completely dominant over the self allele (a). Because black rabbits are homozygous recessive (aa), neither parent carries the dominant 'A' gene to pass down to offspring. However, two black rabbits CAN produce blue kits (if both carry dilute d), chocolate kits (if both carry chocolate b), lilac kits (if both carry b and d), tort kits (if both carry non-extension e), or REW kits (if both carry albino c).
Harlequin is governed by the Japanese extension allele (ej) on the E-locus. It causes erratic, brindled migration of black and yellow pigments, creating alternating bands or calico patches across the face, body, and legs. When an ej rabbit has full color (C), the contrasting colors are black and orange/fawn (Japanese Harlequin). When combined with chinchilla (cchd), all orange pigment is bleached to crisp white, producing a striking black and white checkerboard pattern known as a Magpie.
Standard Chinchilla rabbits possess the dark chinchilla allele (cchd) combined with Agouti (A_ B_ cchd_ D_ E_). In a wild agouti rabbit, the hair shaft contains alternating bands of black eumelanin and yellow phaeomelanin. The cchd mutation selectively eliminates all yellow/red phaeomelanin pigment while leaving dark eumelanin completely intact, transforming yellow bands into pure pearl-white and producing a shimmering fur coat that mimics wild South American chinchillas.
A genetic test cross involves breeding a rabbit with an unknown genotype (such as a dominant Black buck B_ D_) to a homozygous recessive partner (such as a Lilac doe bb dd or REW cc). If the buck carries only dominant genes (BB DD), 100% of the kits will be black. However, if the buck secretly carries recessive chocolate (Bb) or dilute (Dd), the test mating will produce chocolate or blue kits, definitively proving the buck's hidden carrier pedigree in a single litter.
